Lara rested for ODIs

Brian Lara has been rested for the upcoming three-match one-day series versus Pakistan. The West Indian selectors decided the break was required due to the wearing effects of a busy schedule and the need for Lara to be at full fitness ahead of the Test series against Pakistan.

Coach Bennett King commented, “We want to see Brian play for as long as he can…Sometimes people of his age have to be managed differently. He has been a great player over a long period of time. If we want to see him for another couple of years in West Indies, we have to manage him in the short-term future correctly as well. We recommended the rest to him, but he wanted to play. From our point of view, the future and what we are trying to do with the young side that we have, it is important that his knowledge stay with us for as long as it can.”

Wavell Hinds and Pedro Collins return to the squad of 13, which will attempt a much better result in this series than their disappointing 0 – 5 loss at the hands of the South Africans. Pakistani Coach Bob Woolmer believes the home side has a chance of victory and has said that his side will be taking them seriously, “They have obviously had a tough time against South Africa, but I think that’s in the past. We’re not underestimating them in any way, and we’re looking forward to a good contest.”

Full Squad:

1 Chris Gayle, 2 Wavell Hinds, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Shivnarine Chanderpaul (capt), 5 Xavier Marshall, 6 Runako Morton, 7 Dwayne Smith, 8 Dwayne Bravo, 9 Courtney Browne (wk), 10 Corey Collymore, 11 Daren Powell, 12 Pedro Collins, 13 Ian Bradshaw.